News on the topic: international organizations
19.01.2012 Andrey Yurov: “I cannot say that we have achieved brilliant success in Belarus”
Well-known Russian human rights activist Andrey Yurov, head of the International Observation Mission of the Committee on International Control over the Situation with Human Rights in Belarus, wrote a brief article in which he summarized the main results of 2011 and noted the important trends for the future of the human rights movement in the CIS countries.
18.01.2012 Statement of Moscow bureau for human rights in connection with situation in Belarus
During all the recent years Belarus is invariably among the countries of the world where human rights are broken to the greatest extent: breaches of human rights in economic sphere and first of all in social-political sphere are the main object of criticism of international organizations.
23.12.2011 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders: Press Release on Sentencing of Viasna Vice-Chairman Valiantsin Stefanovich
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), condemns the sentencing of Mr. Valiantsin Stefanovich, Vice-Chairman of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna”, by to a fine of 53 million rubles (about 4,840 euros).
21.12.2011 International NGOs stand up for human rights in Belarus
Joint statement of 19 non-governmental organisations International NGOs will organize street actions across Europe to stand up for human rights in Belarus on 19 December 2011.
19.12.2011 One Year After, the Crackdown Continues in Belarus. Statement by Norwegian Helsinki Committee
On 19 December last year we witnessed thousands of peaceful citizens gathering in central Minsk, protesting the oppression and the stolen presidential elections. That night all hope of progress was shattered as we saw police forces batter the protesters and arresting them by the hundreds. Presidential candidates, opposition leaders, civil society leaders and unorganized citizens were all herded into vans and brought to prison. Thousands fled, running away from soldiers and police beating indiscriminately. Belarusian citizens keep running still a year later.
09.12.2011 Boxes with 165,000 petitions to Lukashenka sent to Presidential Administration
“Amnesty International” demands from Aliaksandr Lukashenka to introduce a moratorium on the death penalty. It was stated at today’s press-conference by the organization’s researcher Heather McGill.
07.12.2011 Bialynichy procuracy pays interests to activities of Amnesty International expert
Six years ago a terrible family murder was committed in the village of Vialikaya Mashchanitsa. Six people were killed, including two small children. A day later five villagers, aged 18-24, were detained. Soon they were charged with the murder. The investigation lasted for almost 1.5 years.
07.12.2011 Participants of OSCE Ministerial Council call Belarus to release political prisoners
Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal called upon the Belarusian authorities to stop persecuting civil society activists and release all political prisoners, Euroradio reports.
06.12.2011 UN Committee against Torture insists on investigation of tortures in Belarus
The UN Committee against Torture has released recommendations for the Belarusian authorities after discussing the situation in Belarus in Geneva on 11 and 14 November. Two reports, an official governmental one on Belarus’s fulfilling the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the other one prepared by human rights activists. Following the two hearings, the Committee drew up recommendations for the authorities of Belarus, BelaPAN news agency reports.
25.11.2011 “New legislative amendments unduly restrict fundamental rights,” warn UN experts
Three United Nations independent experts warned that the new legislative amendments recently adopted by the National Assembly of Belarus may severely and arbitrarily restrict the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, association and expression, and breach international law.
24.11.2011 OSCE head calls on Minsk to release Byalyatski immediately
The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis has expressed his deep concern about the sentence to human rights activist Ales Byalyatski and urged to release him immediately.
14.11.2011 Uladzimir Labkovich: “Bialiatski’s case started with a warning, issued to him by General Procuracy for activities on behalf of an unregistered organization”
On 15 October the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) produced a special report "On the conformity with the universal human rights standards of Article 193-1 of the Criminal Code on the rights of non-registered associations of the Republic of Belarus”. The uniqueness of this instrument lies in the fact that it was the first time when this authoritative legal commission considered only one article in a country’s law.
07.11.2011 A brief review of the second day of the hearing of the case of Ales Bialiatski
On November 3, 2011 in Minsk the trial of Ales Bialiatski, the head of the human rights center Viasna and vice-president of the International Federation of Human Rights continued. The International observation mission of the Committee on international control over the situation with Human Rights in Belarus followed the progress of the trial. A survey of the first day can be found here. Today's hearing was largely devoted to the examination of witnesses.
07.11.2011 The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders: Third day of the trial against Ales Bialiatski shows clear signs of a politically-motivated trial
On the second day, Mr. Ales Bialiatski appeared in court behind bars, very pale, but also very clear when answering about his professional activities. On the first day of his trial, Mr. Ales Bialiatski was not allowed to have lunch, nor to drink. When he was interrogated for more than two hours, he stood up, with his documents in the hands whereas the interrogators, the prosecution and the judge were sat-down.
02.11.2011 Trial of Ales Bialiatski (updated)
Extraordinary precautions have been used since 9 a.m. near the building of the Maskouski District Court of Minsk. Special police forces and several cars of the road police arrived. Private parking spaces were fenced with protective police tapes. The people who wanted to attend the trial started gathering at the entrance. At 9.30 a.m. Ales Bialiatski was guarded to the court.
